Crisis in Command: Mismanagement in the Army

by Richard A. Gabriel

Book Overview

Crisis in Command, written in the aftermath of the Vietnam War, details the mismanagement of the US Army's leadership.

Former soldiers Richard A. Gabriel and Paul L. Savage provide documented evidence that the military forces of the United States are ill-prepared for war, having been weakened by officer-corps members who have abandoned honor and integrity to further their individual careers.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0809001403
• ISBN13: 9780809001408
• Release Date: July 1979
• Publisher: Farrar, Strauss & Giroux-3pl
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Forgotten Lessons

I first read this book as a student in ROTC in the mid-1980's. The author shows how thousands of years of military philosophy and practice were thrown away by the Pentagon in exchange for modern corporate practices. Soldiers must be lead; not "managed" to their deaths. Manamara and crew subverted lessons learned by commanders in battle through the ages, and substituted corporate methods which were the detriment of the US military; especially in Vietnam. An army can fight anywhere, anytime, so long as it is properly trained and led by skilled military leaders who innovate on the lessons of the past. Corporate practices should be left to those in Admin and Supply. The author cites examples of the military successes that were due to adherence to historical military truisms. This book will describe the REAL cause for our failure in Vietnam- to the surprise of most University intellectuals. This book causes an epiphany of ones sense of military history.

The business version was "On a clear day you can see GM"

This book clearly and succinctly discusses what went wrong with the US Army leading to the debacles of Viet Nam. It is good reading for those interested in the military, but the lessons are just as true for industry. I highly recommend this book.